Many stores' policy here is after something is marked down 80-90% it is given to GW. I regularly see new clothing and craft items in bins there. As far as something that is broken, the store doesn't want the liability in case of injury. The stores may also have to follow the manufacturers' guidelines as far as disposal, too. As far as something looking perfectly good, it really may not be. Suppose those ribbons were a return item form a heavy smokers home. would you really want the store to try to sell them or donate them? After trying to get smoke out of fabric myself, i would pitch rather than deal with it